Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa’s announcement of the ambitious project last month has drawn both criticism and praise from a number of quarters, including business, architects, scientists and sceptics.
A consortium of promoters, have clarified their position on what the R17bn development, dubbed the will entail in terms of cost and implementation. Welcome to email willem@propx.co.za for more info.
“What has been done is a desk top study based upon extensive research. A number of the results of this research still has to be verified. There is a fair amount of work to be done between the conception of a development and the actual implementation.”
One of the major concerns raised so far has been the dolomitic nature of the proposed site on and around the Centurion Lake located between the Ben Schoeman Highway and the N1 Highway corridor adjacent to the Gautrain station.
Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa announced last month that the tallest tower will reach 110 storeys and will be flanked by two highrises of 80 and 60 floors each. The total height of the tallest tower will be 447m.
A technical survey is yet to be conducted to test the integrity of the ground earmarked for the development’s foundation. He added that geologists and engineers involved hope to have concluded their technical survey by September 2012.
Critics have said the foundation for a building higher than 100 storeys would have to be extremely deep, costing an exorbitant amount. In order to obtain yield from this, landlords would have to charge in excess of R200 per m².
The construction of the foundation will be a challenge. “I don’t know how far down we will have to dig, but it will be a small mine.”
He says depending on the outcome of the technical survey and other studies, the concept in its current form might have to be shelved.
Source. moneyweb.co.za (amended by OfficeForSale)
